Patio Door Replacement Basics: A Starter Guide for Every Homeowner – Part 1: Picking the Right Patio Door Replacement – 3 Tips to Keep in Mind

Posted: February 2, 2016

Looking for a patio door replacement? You might be surprised, overwhelmed even, to learn that there are so many options available to you. Don’t worry! We got your back. Aside from taking note of specific needs that you want a patio door replacement to address, keeping in mind these three tips will help you in finding the right one for your home.

1. Hinged Patio Doors Need Room to Open
To ensure you make the most out of a patio door replacement, you have to make sure that you’ll be able to use it right. If you’re thinking of getting a hinged patio door then, you have to ensure that it will have enough space to swing open. Traditionally, hinged patio doors swing in but if you have more space outside around the doorway, you can opt for an out-swing patio door instead. If space will be tight around the doorway either way, a sliding patio door will be the better option for you.

2. Glass is a Major Patio Door Component
Many patio doors incorporate a lot of glass in their design so you’ll want to consider just what kind of glass will be used on your patio door replacement. Modern models, for instance, will come standard with energy-efficient glass, featuring improvements like low-emissivity coating to reduce the amount of heat let in without impeding natural light. If you’re looking to improve energy efficiency in your home and take advantage of daylighting, then getting a patio door replacement with low-E glass will be benefit you. Patio door glass itself can feature designs so don’t hesitate to take advantage of customization options available to you.

3. Durability and Ease of Maintenance are Important Features
Your patio door will undoubtedly see a lot of traffic; the last thing you want is a door that will need a lot of TLC just to keep it working right. All patio door frame materials will have something to offer but if you’re looking for durability and ease of maintenance, composite is the way to go. Aside from the material’s ability to match just about any decor, color, texture, or style, it lasts a long time despite requiring little in the way of maintenance and upkeep. This will let you enjoy not just convenience but savings as well because maintenance costs will be low.

French doors are popular as patio doors. Learn more about the door type in Part 2 of this blog series to see why it’s ideal as a patio door replacement.